A BILLIARD MATCH for the large stake of £600 took place on Monday evening at St. James's Hall, the competitors being John Roberts, jun., the champion, and W. Timbrell, of Liverpool, the latter player receiving 300 points in a game of 1,000 up.
The performances of the former of these two players are so well known that a detailed account is as unnecessary as it would be lengthy. Perhaps in no period of his career has the champion displayed such brilliant form as during the past twelve months. During this period he has twice defeated Cook for the championship, and at Manchester won the great handicap, in which he beat Cook level, and conceding a long start to six of the best players in England, he yet won every game, a series of victories we believe to be the finest exhibition of billiards ever given. In every one of these games he made a break of over 100 off the balls, and in two of them over 200, although the heats were only 500 up. Taking the best run out of each of these seven games, Roberts scored no less than 1,126 in seven breaks.
W. Timbrell has but seldom played in London, and, unfortunately, when he has appeared, has been too ill to show his true form.
In the first great handicap that was played in this country on the American system, which took place at Bennett's Rooms in Oxford-street, and which, like the Manchester one, was won by Timbrell's opponent of last night, Timbrell was unfortunately suffering from an attack of rheumatism, but he has given ample proof of his power as a billiard player who combines good nerve with brilliant execution. His greatest victory was over S. W. Stanley, who, like himself, depends mainly on the "spot stroke," Timbrell beating him in a game of 1,000 for a stake of £1,000, winning the game by 114 points. Timbrell can also boast of having made the second largest break on record, as in a game with an amateur at the Adelphi Rooms at Liverpool, he scored no less than 893 off the balls, this break containing 296 spot hazards. Thus Timbrell made within 43 of the break of Cook- viz., 936. Timbrell has twice played Cook for £100 a-side, and was beaten on both occasions. He has also twice played Roberts for the same amount, and on each occasion was successful. Last evening, however, Roberts had an ample revenge, as the game was so one-sided that but very little interest was felt in it by the lookers on.
Play commenced at sixteen minutes past eight o'clock, the first break of any moment being one of 34 by Timbrell, who in it got the spot, but failed to make more than five hazards. On Timbrell reaching 397 to Roberts's 52, the latter scored a break of 68, including ten spot hazards, and shortly afterwards another good all-round break brought him to 212 to Timbrell's 426. On reaching 241 Roberts again played a fine all-round break of 100, and in his next break but one scored 107, the latter including thirty spot hazards. This brought his score to 463 to Timbrell's 474, the latter player having failed to make any break worthy of record. A few short breaks on either side having intervened, Roberts, by means of a 99 break, principally "spots," reached 654 to Timbrell's 521. After the interval Timbrell started with a break of 48, including thirteen spot hazards, and this break proved to be the best he made during the game. Roberts replied with one of 73 (seventeen spots), and by its means reached 727 to Timbrell's 570. At 834 Roberts again showed his usual fine form, a 78 break bringing him into his last 100. On the other hand, Timbrell broke down repeatedly over easy strokes, and failed to play the "spot" when he got it. Roberts consequently won easily in a little over a couple of hours by 236 points.
The table, which seemed everything that could be desired, was by Cox and Yeman. Oxford Jonathan scored the game with his usual care, and the stakes, £600, were handed over to the winner immediately after the match by the stakeholder.
THE match between these old opponents, to play a game of 1,000 up, for £50 a-side (Fielding conceding 50 points start), took place at the Cotton Waste Dealers Exchange, Market-place, Manchester, on Saturday evening last. Fielding was mostly fancied, and, having beaten his opponent rather easily some twelve months ago, odds of 6 to 4 were laid on him, and at half-past six play commenced by Moss giving the usual miss in baulk. At the outset Fielding did very little, probably owing to the slowness of the table, and Moss, with small though useful breaks, rapidly increased his lead. At "Moss 305, Fielding, 142," the latter put together 31, and Moss making only 17 in his next eleven innings, he gradually made up a little of his lost ground. Moss entered his fifth century 166 points ahead. Both men now began to play better, and Fielding from 248 ran on to 321 with an all-round break of 73, which he afterwards supplemented with 51 (seventeen spots). Moss, meantime, had been making some useful contributions, and just before the interval put on an all-round 77. Game: Moss 711, Fielding 502. On play being resumed, Moss ran his total up to 765 with a break of 54. Fielding, however, never threw the least chance away, and getting on the spot, put the red ball down ten times in a break of 78, bringing his score to 625 against 780, and with 47, 28, 36, 26, and other contributions, made himself 918. Moss then, however, went to 996, and Fielding, failing to materially increase his score, went out a winner by 81 points, the scores being -Moss 1,001, Fielding 919. The game lasted four hours, and was carefully marked by Mr. Cavanagh. Fielding states that, not being satisfied with the result, he will play Moss level on a new table, or give either him or his brother (James) 80 in 1,000 on the Post-office Hotel table, for £50 or £100 a-side.
On Tuesday evening a match of 700 up, for £100, was played at the Ellesmere Club Rooms, Liver-street, Manchester, between John Jones, a local billiard marker, and Eli Pierce, of St. Helens. The room was well filled, and on commencing odds of 6 to 4 were laid on Pierce, which were increased as the game proceeded. The play, however, was tedious in the extreme on the part of both. Pierce was the first to get away with small but useful contributions, reaching 115 to 85, when, with 37 (the best hitherto made), 15, and 29, he continued to increase his lead, the game being called-Pierce 206, Jones 153. The latter now began to creep up, and though his best break in the meantime was one of 24, he managed to score 240 to his opponent's 248. Pierce, however, again drew away with breaks of 17, 12, 19, 22, 16, 16, and 17; Jones failing to make anything of note with the exception of one break of 33, and when the interval occurred the game stood-Pierce 505, Jones 405. On resuming, Pierce was stationary for some time, whilst Jones put together in succession 15 (twice), 21, 15, 23, and 36 (six spots), and gave some hopes to his backers, the game being then called-Pierce 613, Jones 610. The latter continued to reduce the gap, although his breaks were numerically small, and getting level at 696 he ran out a winner by 4, with a break of 14, thus literally pulling the match out of the fire. The game occupied four hours and a half, and was marked by T. Barnes.